Andrew Jackson (1828-1836)

Election of 1824 “The Corrupt Bargain” – In the election of 1824 Jackson beat John Quincy Adams in the popular vote & the Electoral College vote, but no one got enough votes in the Electoral College to win the presidency. Henry Clay, the Speaker of the House made it clear he did not want Andrew Jackson as President. The House of Rep’s made John Quincy Adams President and later JQA made Henry clay his Secretary of State. Was a “corrupt” deal made between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay?

The “Common Man” gets suffrage!

Election of 1828 Voting restrictions eased – now almost any white man could vote regardless of how much property he owned the “Common Man”. Thanks to the memories of “Corrupt bargain” & the “Common Man” vote Andrew Jackson won the Presidency.

Jackson was an aristocrat himself, he just didn’t act like one. This election is considered the end of the Aristocracy – upper class, well educated & eastern men no longer had a lock on the Presidency Jackson was an aristocrat himself, he just didn’t act like one. On Inauguration Day Jackson opens up the White House to all of his supporters. They didn’t behave like others at a White House party.

The Spoils System Jackson fired many of the federal workers (bureaucrats) in DC and replaced them with people who helped him get elected: “to the victor goes the spoils!” Unfortunately many he put into the bureaucracy were unqualified, inept and in some cases outright criminals who embezzled (stole) public funds. Jackson dangles the spoils of victory (jobs) over his supporters.

The Bank of the United States Jackson, like many of the “common” men, despised the Bank of the United States! He vetoed its charter, ending the bank. No one used the power of the veto like Andrew Jackson! IN retaliation Congress censured (formally denounced) Jackson, but the “common” people loved Jackson for closing the bank. He easily won reelection in 1832. Jackson's actions with regards to the Second Bank of the United States resulted in his censure by Congress for abuse of power. This cartoon depicts Henry Clay sewing Jackson's mouth shut.

The Trail of Tears Jackson was also famous for defeating the Seminoles in Florida. Being a friend of the states and a foe of the Native Americans, he had no problem forcing thousands of Native Americans from their rightful lands in the South. The Supreme Court ruled that the land belonged to the native Americans. Jackson ignored the court’s decision! As Commander in Chief Jackson used the army to force the Cherokee and other tribes off the rightful lands.

Over 4000 Cherokees died along the march from Georgia and the Carolinas to Indian reservations in modern day Oklahoma

South Carolina & Nullification The South hated tariffs (taxes on imports from foreign nations) because it hurt their ability to trade. After Congress imposed the Tariff of 1832, South Carolina said states had the right to ignore or “nullify” any congressional law they believed violated their sovereignty (rights). They even threatened to secede! Jackson, a southerner and a friend of states rights, believed South Carolina went too far. Jackson warned that nullification and secession were types of treason and therefore punishable by death. South Carolina backed down and a lower tariff was replaced the Tariff of 1832, but Jackson made it clear that the existence of the Union was more important than the well being of a group of states.

Rise of New Political Party’s the federalist party was replaced by two new parties The Whig Party fought against Jackson’s policies and emerged in the Election of 1832. Jackson won reelection. The Know Nothing Party (American) was basically an Anti-Immigration Party. Members of this party were also called Nativist’s because they only respected those Americans who were born in the United States . . . Even if their mothers and fathers had been immigrants themselves.

Was Jackson a Good or Bad President?